struck on the fiscal cliff. i think boehner is trying to exert control. leaders try to exert control before these votes happen. sometimes weeks before. so this was a warning to house conservatives, that if you go against leadership and a deal is struck, there are going to be consequences. >> yeah. so chuck todd, let's talk about the other side of pennsylvania avenue. the president of the united states yesterday speaking with john boehner. and they wisely decided not to characterize that phone call, thank god for the sake of america. and the world. also, you had tim geithner. good god. >> he didn't say anything he hasn't said before. >> geithner on the sunday shows was saying oh, yeah, the republicans are going to back down. they're going to cower in the corner, tremble and whatever. and then yesterday he said we're going to go over the cliff if republicans don't do what we want. i'm curious, what's the white house attitude right now? are they willing to go over the cliff? is geithner right? >> are they willing t